Bristol City Council: Women's Rights Campaigners 'Shocked' by Council Ban Amid Trans Rights Row
हिंदी में सुनें
Listen to this article in Hindi
Two women's rights campaigners are planning legal action after being barred from Bristol City Council meetings following a confrontation over trans rights.
Two women's rights campaigners have expressed shock and are planning to launch a legal challenge after being banned from Bristol City Council meetings. Phoebe Beedell and Wendy Stephenson believe they are being unfairly targeted for their gender-critical beliefs.
The ban, which excludes them for at least six months, stems from a Bristol City Council meeting in November. The meeting became heated after Green Party councillors displayed placards supporting trans rights.
The council, under the leadership of Tony Dyer, stated that the women's behavior following the meeting caused some individuals to feel "intimidated."
Dr. Beedell described the ban as "unbelievable" and "shocking," adding that she was not given the opportunity to present her side of the story.
The dispute is rooted in an April Supreme Court ruling clarifying that the term "woman" in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex.
Bristol City Council's Trans Inclusion and Gender Identity Policy 2023 is currently under review, pending updated government guidance on single-sex services following the Supreme Court ruling.
Dr. Beedell stated that her attendance at the November meeting was motivated by an incident at a previous meeting in September, where Green Party councillors walked out, alleging offensive remarks from members of the public. At the November meeting, she questioned Mr. Dyer about whether councillors would listen respectfully to differing viewpoints.
